The 2009-10 version of the California Legislature convenes today, with a bunch of new members set to take over for the class of 2007-08.

They'll have some, uh, interesting shoes to fill. - Like the assemblywoman whom Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger described as "hot," and who returned the compliment by saying she wouldn't kick the governor out of bed.

- Or the state senator who was carjacked while driving in his own district. Or the assemblywoman who was thrown out of the Capitol and got revenge by endorsing a successor from the other party.

Just how many new faces there are among the 80 Assembly members and 40 state senators depends on how you define "new."

All 11 incoming senators have previously served in the Assembly, seven of them as recently as the session that ended Sunday. In the Assembly, three of the newbies have served in the Senate (and there are also three sons and an ex-wife of former legislators.) Those completely new to the Capitol total 25.

Brand new or slightly used, there's a lot incoming legislators can learn from departing legislators, including lessons like these:

Lesson 1

Saying something dumb probably won't hurt your re-election chances, but keep a change of underwear handy.

In September of '06, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was caught on tape in his office discussing whether Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, was of Puerto Rican or Cuban heritage: "I mean they are all very hot," the governor said.

A month later, in a reference to Schwarzenegger, Garcia told a high school economics class in La Quinta that "I wouldn't kick him out of my bed."

Neither Garcia nor Schwarzenegger was offended, and both won re-election later that year.

Of course, Garcia was always prepared for the unexpected: She once told her colleagues during a floor debate that she had an extra pair of panties in her desk drawer in case the session went long.

Lesson 2

Be wise in choosing your wheels.

Outgoing Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata was sitting at a North Oakland red light (in his state-leased 2006 candy-apple-red Dodge Charger - the one with the 22-inch chrome rims) one late December day in 2007, when a guy walked up, pulled a mask over his head and pointed a gun at the legislator.

The next thing Perata knew, the guy was driving away with the car, as well as Perata's cell phone. The car was recovered later that day. A suspect was later arrested, and prosecutors said he was part of a gang out looking for "hot cars." Perata's next ride was a Ford Crown Victoria. Like cops drive.

Lesson 3

Be careful out there.

A minor bumper-thumper turned out to be a major headache for departing Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco.

In May 2007, Migden was driving through Solano County in her state-leased Toyota Highlander hybrid SUV when her cell phone rang. Reaching for it, she smacked into a car in front of her that was slowing for a red light.

No one was seriously hurt, and the California Highway Patrol didn't cite her. Then it turned out Migden had been driving erratically before the accident. Then she said medication she had been taking to fight leukemia might have addled her. Then she had a six-minute news conference at which she declined to answer questions. Then she was charged with reckless driving, pleaded no contest, was fined and placed on two years' probation.

Then she came in third in a three-person primary election battle earlier this year.

Lesson 4

Cross the speaker at your own risk; or, blood is thicker than partisanship.

In August, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass kicked Assemblywoman Nicole Parra of Hanford out of her Capitol office because Parra refused to join her fellow Democrats in voting for a budget bill. Parra was banished to less opulent digs across the street.

But the termed-out Parra got her revenge, backing a Republican candidate in the race to replace her instead of Democrat Fran Florez. (Her real motivation was that Florez's son, Sen. Dean Florez, had successfully run a candidate against Parra's father for a Kern County Board of Supervisors seat. So Parra decided to help defeat Florez's mom.) It worked, and the Republican won.

Call Steve Wiegand, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 321-1076.